It'll be a good while afore my head's full o' th' Methodies," said Ben.
"Nay, but it's often full o' drink, and that's worse." Ben, however, had now got the "red pot" in his hand, and was about to begin writing his inscription, making, by way of preliminary, an imaginary S in the air.
"Let it alone, will you ?" Adam called out, laying down his tools, striding up to Ben, and seizing his right shoulder.

"Let it alone, or I'll shake the soul out o' your body." Ben shook in Adam's iron grasp, but, like a plucky small man as he was, he didn't mean to give in.

With his left hand he snatched the brush from his powerless right, and made a movement as if he would perform the feat of writing with his left.

In a moment Adam turned him round, seized his other shoulder, and, pushing him along, pinned him against the wall.

But now Seth spoke.
"Let be, Addy, let be.